Self-operating circular gate



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM THOMPSON, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SELF-OPERATING CIRCULAR GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 13,109, dated June 19, 1855.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM THOMPSON, of Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and Improved Gate; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and eX- act description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a longitudinal section of my improvement. Fig. 2, is a plan or top View of ditto.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

This invention relates to a new and improved gate, for farms, parks, and inclosures of any kind, and consists in constructing the gate, in the form of a wheel or perfectly circular, and having said gate, work o-r rest on a vibrating rail, as will be presently shown, so that the gate will roll either to the rightor left according as the rail is inclined, and the gate consequently opened or closed.

A, represents four vertical posts which are secured firmly in the ground, orvto any proper platform or supports. The posts are placed in pairs, two together, the two pairs being placed a certain distance apart corresponding to the size of the gate. A suitable space is allowed between each pair of posts suiiiciently wide to allow the gate B, toy fit between them, as shown in Fig. 2.

The gate B, is perfect-ly circular in form, and may be made of any proper material and size.

The gate B, rests upon a rail C, the lower surface of which is beveled as shown clearly in Fig. l, leaving a point (a) which serves as a fulcrum for the rail to vibrate upon. The end or front of the rail O, at one side of the point or fulcrum -is considerably longer, than the other end, and to the short end a platform D, is secured, said plat-form extending both in front and back of the gate, as shown in Fig. 2. The platform D, has a weight E, at its edge suiiiciently heavy to keep the short side of the rail upon the ground, and consequently the long side in an inclined position as shown in Fig. l, when the rail O, is in the above position, the gate B, will be closed because it will be kept between the posts A, but a person in passing upon the platform D, in front of the gate or directly behind it, will cause in consequence of his weight, the long side or part of the rail to be depressed and the gate will roll down the long end of the rail and consequently will be opened, as shown in red Fig. 1. After the person has passed through the gate and off the platform, the rail C, will return to its original position, in consequence of the weight E, on the edge of t-he platform D, and the long end of the plat-y form will be elevated, and the gate B, will roll back between the posts A, and be again closed.

The platform D, may be provided with any proper fastening, so that the gate B, cannot be casually opened by animals, and any suitable guides, or framing F, may be used for the gate to work between.

I am aware that many modifications of the above described gate may be made. I therefore do not confine myself to the precise formV herein shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is,

Constructing the gate B, of circular form, and having said gate, rest upon a vibrating rail C, which is connected to a platform D, or arranged in any proper way, so that said rail may be inclined either by the weight of the person, vehicle, or animal, which is to pass through it, or by any other device, and cause the gate to roll down the depressed end of the rail, and consequently leave a free or open space between the posts, said gate closing or returning to its original position between the posts, when the rail is relieved of the weight orpressure which first actuated it. g

, WILLIAM THOMPSON. Vitnesses:

E. B. GARRETT, VOLNEY S. STEvENsoN. 

